Times Alone: Selected Poems of Antonio Machado

Forty Poems Chosen from "Moral Proverbs and Folk Songs"

FORTY POEMS CHOSEN FROM "MORAL PROVERBS AND FOLK SONGS" Dedicated to Jose Ortega y Gasset i The eye you see is not an eye because you see it; it is an eye because it sees you. ii To talk with someone, ask a question first, then—listen. in Narcissism is an ugly fault, and now it's a boring fault too. IV But look in your mirror for the other one, the other one who walks by your side. Between living and dreaming there is a third thing. Guess it. VI This Narcissus of ours can't see his face in the mirror because he has become the mirror. [M3] v VII iSiglo nuevo? 44] VII New century? Still firing up the same forge? Is the water still going along in its bed? VIII Every instant is Still. IX The sun in Aries. Mywindow is open to the cool air. Oh the sound of the water far off! The evening awakens the river. x In the old farmhouse —a high tower with storks!— the gregarious sound falls silent, and in the field where no one is, water makes a sound among the rocks. XI Just as before, I'm interested in water held in; but now water in the living rock of my chest. XII When you hear water, does its sound tell you if it's from mountain or farm, city street, formal garden, or orchard? XIII What I find surprises me: leaves of the garden balm smell of lemonwood. [*45] XIV Nunca traces tu frontera, ni cuides de tu perfil; todo eso es cosa de fuera. xv Busca a tu complementario, que marcha siempre contigo, y suele ser tu contrario. XVI Si vino la primavera, volad a lasflores; no chup&s cera. XVII En mi soledad he visto cosas muy claras, que no son verdad. XVIII Buena es el agua y la sed; buena es la sombra y el sol; la miel de flor de romero, la miel de campo sin flor. XIX Solo quede un simbolo: quod elixum est ne asato. No aseis lo que esta cocido. XX Canta, canta, canta, junto a su tomate, el grillo en su jaula. [146] XIV Don't trace out your profile, forget your side viewall that is outer stuff. xv Look for your other half who walks always next to you and tends to be what you aren't. XVI When spring comes, go to the flowerswhy keep on sucking wax? XVII In my solitude I have seen things very clearly that were not true. XVIII Water is good, so is thirst; shadow is good, so is sun; the honey from the rosemarys and the honey of the barefields. XIX Only one creed stands: quod elixum est ne asato. Don't roast what's already boiled. xx Sing on, sing on, sing on, the cricket in his cage near his darling tomato. ['471 XXI Despacito y buena letra: el hacer las cosas bien importa mas que el hacerlas. XXII Sin embargo . .. [Ah!, sin embargo, importa avivar los remos, dijo el caracol al galgo. XXIII [Ya hay hombres activos! Sonaba la charca con sus mosquitos. XXIV Despertad, cantores: acaben los ecos, empiecen las voces. xxv Mas no busque"is disonancias; porque, al fin, nada disuena, siempre al son que tocan bailan. XXVI No es el yo fundamental eso que busca el poeta, sino el tu esencial. XXVII Los ojos por que suspiras, sdbelo bien, los ojos en que te miras son ojos porque te ven. [148] XXI Form your letters slowly and well: making things well is more important than making them. XXII All the same . . . Ah yes! All the same, moving the legs fast is important, as the snail said to the greyhound. XXIII There are really men of action now! The marsh was dreaming of its mosquitoes. XXIV Wake up, you poets: let echoes end, and voices begin. XXV But don't hunt for dissonance; because, in the end, there is no dissonance. When the sound is heard people dance. XXVI What the poet is searching for is not the fundamental I but the deep you. XXVII The eyes you're longing for— listen now— the eyes you see yourself in are eyes because they see you. [»49] XXVIII Tras el vivir y el sonar...